Basic Punctuation

Functions

Mr. Tibbens

, ; :

CommasUses:1) After introductory

words/phrases/clauses- After school, Sally will walk her dogs.

2) Around interruptions- I will have to ask my coach, Mr. Kelly, if I can leave early.

3) Between items in a list of three or more- Johnny loves football, baseball, and basketball.

4) Between multiple modifiers- The old, smelly dog sleeps in the basement.

5) Before FANBOYS to combine related sentences- Sally enjoys music, but she loves literature.

1) After introductory words/phrases/clauses

- After school, I will walk my dogs.

- Today, we will learn about commas.

- Next class, we’ll do more punctuation.

- Before you leave, be sure to lock the doors.

- While punctuation can be boring, it is important.

Commas

2) Around interruptions - I will have to ask my coach, Mr. Kelly, if I can leave early.

- Will you, Mr. Smith, please be quiet?

- The dog, the one with brown fur, is well trained.

- Animal Farm, which is a great book, will conclude our year.

- Juan loves all kinds of pizza toppings, except for anchovies.

Commas

3) Between items in a list of three or more

- Johnny loves football, baseball, and basketball.

- Peanut butter and jelly, ham and cheese, and turkey are my favorite sandwiches.

- You can walk, jog, or run on that treadmill.

- The teacher seems to like commas, semicolons, and colons.

- The Spartans, Bulldogs, and Falcons are high school teams in Ashburn.

Commas

4) Between multiple modifiers

- The old, smelly dog sleeps in the basement.

- Your intelligent, handsome, humble English teacher is great.

- That tall, strong woman is both athletic and academic.

- Suzette helped the dirty, scraggly, disheveled man.

- Loud, unfocused, unmotivated students tend to struggle.

Commas

5) Before FANBOYS to combine related sentences

- Sally enjoys music, but she loves literature.

- Shantel will go to college, and Anthony will join the army.

- Alex dislikes most dairy products, yet he still eats ice cream.

- Jim does not like school, nor does he like work.

- You can work hard, or you can slack off, but no one will do the work for you.

Commas

5) Before FANBOYS to combine related sentences

FOR ANDNORBUTORYETSO

Commas

FANBOYS are coordinating conjunctions.

A coordinating conjunction connects two words, two phrases, or two clauses or equal “rank” or significance.

5) Before FANBOYS to combine related sentences

- Sally enjoys music, but she loves literature.

- Shantel will go to college, and Anthony will join the army.

- Alex dislikes most dairy products, yet he still eats ice cream.

- Jim does not like school, nor does he like work.

- You can work hard, or you can slack off, but no one will do the work for you.

Commas

CommasUses:1) After introductory

words/phrases/clauses- After school, Sally will walk her dogs.

2) Around interruptions- I will have to ask my coach, Mr. Kelly, if I can leave early.

3) Between items in a list of three or more- Johnny loves football, baseball, and basketball.

4) Between multiple modifiers- The old, smelly dog sleeps in the basement.

5) Before FANBOYS to combine related sentences- Sally enjoys music, but she loves literature.

SemicolonsUses:6) To combine separate but related

sentences- I love golf; I play it all the time.

- Billy wants to play; unfortunately, he has no money.

7) Between items in a list when the items include extra commas- Sally has travelled to Pittsburgh, PA; Harrisonburg, VA; and Raleigh, NC.

6) To combine separate but related sentences

- Jack loves golf; he plays it all the time.

- Billy wants to play; unfortunately, he has no money.

- I’m learning commas; furthermore, I will learn semicolons and colons.

CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS: (Sentence; conjunctive adverb, sentence.)

accordingly, furthermore, moreover, similarly, also, hence, namely, still, anyway, however, nevertheless, besides, incidentally, next, thereafter, certainly, indeed, nonetheless, therefore, consequently, instead, now, thus, finally, likewise, otherwise, undoubtedly, further, meanwhile… and many more.

Semicolons

7) Between items in a list when the items include extra commas

- Sally has travelled to Pittsburgh, PA; Harrisonburg, VA; and Raleigh, NC.

- My team won on January 27, 1999; February 12, 2002; and September 13, 2005.

- I dislike smelly, old men; nagging, old women; loud, angry boys; and soft spoken, mean girls.

Semicolons

SemicolonsUses:6) To combine separate but related

sentences- I love golf; I play it all the time.

- Billy wants to play; unfortunately, he has no money.

7) Between items in a list when the items include extra commas- Sally has travelled to Pittsburgh, PA; Harrisonburg, VA; and Raleigh, NC.

ColonsUses:8) (After a complete sentence) to set

up an explanation, clarification, or example- I’ll bring the following items: cookies, candy,

and soda.- Mr. Tibbens is an excellent teacher: he explains

concepts well.

SPECIAL NOTE: Do NOT use a colon with the following kinds of phrases: “for

example,” “such as,” “to clarify,” or “like.” A colon does the same job as these phrases: they all set up examples, clarifications, or explanations.

Comma Uses:1) After introductory words/phrases/clauses

- After school, Sally will walk her dogs.2) Around interruptions

- I will have to ask my coach, Mr. Kelly, if I can leave early.3) Between items in a list of three or more

- Johnny loves football, baseball, and basketball.4) Between multiple modifiers

- The old, smelly dog sleeps in the basement.5) Before FANBOYS to combine related sentences

- Sally enjoys music, but she loves literature.

Semicolon Uses:6) To combine separate but related sentences

- I love golf; I play it all the time.

- Billy wants to play; unfortunately, he has no money.

7) Between items in a list when the items include extra commas- Sally has travelled to Pittsburgh, PA; Harrisonburg, VA; and Raleigh, NC.

Colon Uses:8) (After a complete sentence) to set up an explanation, clarification, or example

- I’ll bring the following items: cookies, candy, and soda.

- Mr. Tibbens is an excellent teacher: he explains concepts well.

OVERsimplifying Punctuation

(Be careful – these simplifications are NOT always correct!)

, = and (kinda) ,FANBOYS = .

; = ,FANBOYS ; = .

: = ,for example (such as, etc.) – = : + !

Questions?